Investing is arguably the most complicated and intimidating aspect of managing money. That’s one reason why target-date mutual funds have become so popular. Such funds, offered by many mutual fund companies, handle some of the most important investment tasks for you. They are now the default choice in many workplace retirement plans. But is using […]
Investing is arguably the most complicated and intimidating part of money management. And years like this one don’t make it seem any easier! To invest successfully, it’s important to control what you can and let go of the rest. Consider your answers to the following questions, each one of which focuses on a key investing […]
Weekly roundup of recommended personal finance articles from around the web. How to adjust your brain for 8.5% inflation (Wall Street Journal). After enjoying a low-inflation environment for so long, it’s jarring to go to the gas station or grocery store these days. Here’s how to cope. Target-date funds work up to a point. So […]
10 things you can do today to live more like a minimalist (Becoming Minimalist). “Minimalism isn’t about owning less than you need, it’s about owning exactly what you need.” The triple tax break you may be missing: a health savings account (NY Times). A deduction for contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals. What’s not to like? Generous […]
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. “Everyone who thinks the stock market is a game loses” (The Wall Street Journal). The best approach to investing shouldn’t be all that exciting. House hunters now need pre-approval letters to walk in the door (Money). The new rules of home […]
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Everybody’s talking about it (The Irrelevant Investor). To invest, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable sometimes. Here’s what happens when you panic and sell your 401(k) investments (USA Today). In short, nothing good. Why you probably don’t want to […]
If you’re nervous about investing in the stock market, you’re not alone. Stock ownership in the U.S. is down and frightening memories of the last bear market may be to blame. According to a Gallup survey, just 54 percent of U.S. adults own stocks, including those owned through mutual funds that people invest in via […]
A weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Your fall home maintenance checklist: 7 tasks to tackle before temperatures dip (Realtor.com). Summer ends this weekend. Here’s how to get your house ready for the colder days ahead. These 401(k) funds took a beating in 2008 — and it could […]
In general, I believe there’s more to like about target-date funds than dislike. However, several recent articles have taken such funds to task. Let’s see if the criticisms are warranted. A little background Target-date funds greatly simply the process of choosing an appropriate mutual fund, getting the important asset allocation process mostly right and automating […]
Criticizing 401(k) plans has become a cottage industry. With great regularity, financial writers still complain about the loss of traditional pensions and say it’s asking far too much to expect people to be able to figure out how much to contribute and what investments to choose. The most recent example is an LA Times article […]
